How to Shop Like a Minimalist: 10 Strategies to Shop with Intention

I used to be a shopaholic. I shopped for everything, from groceries to clothes. I spent money on the latest gadgets and the newest, trendiest cars. But when I took a step back and analyzed how my shopping habits were impacting my life, it became clear that it was time for a change.

In this article, we're going to take a look at some of the strategies that helped me find success in shopping like a minimalist - with intention.

The 10 tips in this article are all designed to help you scrutinize your purchases more closely before they hit your cart, which encourages you to buy things that will last longer and only buy what is absolutely necessary in order to maintain mental balance in your life.

Whether you've been struggling for years to curtail your spending, or you're just looking for some new strategies to help reduce the clutter in your life, this article will address some common problems that we all face when it comes to shopping with intention.

1. STOP BUYING THINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE ON SALE

Many people feel compelled to buy something because it is on sale, even if they don't need it.

It's easy to justify purchases that we're going to save money on, so this is one of the easiest traps for shoppers to fall into.

When you see something that is marked down by 50% or more, try and take a look at whether you really need the item in question.

If the answer is no, then stop and ask yourself whether you'd buy it if there was no discount.

2. BUY ONLY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE

Don't buy things just because they are a good deal. Buy only what you're actually going to use.

If you see a pair of shoes at an excellent price, make sure that you'll wear them. I can't tell you how many times I've bought something at a great price and then found that I never wore it, so it ended up being a waste of money.

Be sure to take your closet into consideration when buying things, because otherwise your new purchase will just end up being thrown in the back of your closet for months or years on end - which is not environmentally friendly either.

3. THROW OUT YOUR CLOSET

Go through your closet and pull out all of the things that you don't wear or use. If you find something that is broken and you want to keep it for spare parts, remove the unwanted part and throw away the rest.

It's true, many people hold on to clothes or other items for sentimental reasons, but if you're just hanging onto an item because of its emotional value, then get rid of it and get what it was that you were really sad about losing.

4. STOP BUYING THINGS YOU DON'T NEED

Nothing invites buyers remorse more quickly than buying things you don't need. If you're on vacation and you see something that is 'must have', but it's not actually something that you will wear or use, then leave the store without making a purchase.

It's a lot easier to justify buying something that we never intended to buy in the first place. It's difficult to spend money if we know it is going to be wasted - this is why so many people are able to go into a furniture store or toy store with their children and walk out without buying anything.

5. CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE AND WORK FOR WHAT YOU WANT

It's easier to buy something that you can't afford when you don't have to save up for it.

Many people are living on a tight budget, so they can only afford certain items but when they think about what they want in life, then they're going to be able to make the necessary sacrifices in order to achieve the lifestyle of their dreams.

When your financial situation improves and you're able to afford more expensive things, then you'll be able to stop buying things that aren't necessary.

6. AVOID FINAL SALES

Many people are stimulated by having to buy something right away. They see that a product is on sale or it's marked down, and they buy the item even if they don't need it.

You should try and avoid final sales and deals in general, because these are designed to really encourage shoppers to part with their money.

We're much more motivated by discounts than we are by price alone, so if you're trying to control spending then you'll want to avoid final sales altogether and only buy things when they're 'full price'.

7. PLAN YOUR SHOPPING TRIPS AND DON'T OVERDO IT

When you're making a trip to the store, be sure to take only what is required. Don't take the entire cart with you and don't buy any additional items.

If you buy something that's not on your list, then leave it at the register. If it's not on your list, then it's not a necessity and you should buy it if you want to - but don't be discouraged by it appearing in your cart accidentally.

Schedule a trip for yourself if necessary and try to stick with it if at all possible.

8. BE FRIENDLY - CONDUCT THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD IN PERSON

Communication is key when it comes to shopping with intention, so be friendly and courteous when you are conducting your own transactions.

We all have different personalities, and we're not all going to get along with the same people.

However, when you're conducting a transaction, try and conduct yourself in the same way that you would if you were meeting someone else face to face.

Treat the cashier with respect, as you would want to be treated if you were working there. Be polite and kind to others, even if they aren't being respectful in return.

9. THROW OUT YOUR RECEIPTS

Many people save their receipts because they think that they might need them if a product breaks or is unsatisfactory in some way. But rather than being hoarded, these receipts should be thrown out after the purchase.

Otherwise, you could lose your receipts, which will make it very difficult to know whether you're entitled to a refund or not. You don't want to end up with a box full of expired grocery store receipts that could have been issued years ago.

10. BE BRAVE AND COME UP WITH A PLAN

It's a lot easier to stay away from shopping when you have a plan and you're not craving something specific. If you know that your bank account is low, then stick to it and don't go crazy.

If you're in a store and you spot something that is on sale or marked down, try to resist buying it. The best way to resist temptation is to come up with a plan because then it will be easier for you to avoid buying unnecessary things.

In Conclusion

I hope you found these helpful as you consider how to be more self-controlled in your spending habits. Putting into practice the principles in these tips will certainly help you to curb unnecessary spending and avoid being a slave to your desires.